VARIETY DEVELOPMENT, TESTING, REGISTREATION, APPROVALAND

RELEASE SYSTEM IN PAKISTAN

The main objective of plant breeding programmes is to develop new plant varieties that can
enhance the farm productivity. The type of plant varieties so selected for commercial production
are greatly influenced by its mode of reproduction, cost of seed relative to its performance, nature
of seed production and distribution and the environment where it will be grown. Between creation
and marketing of a variety, it is subjected to various forms of testing for registration, release and
approval etc. this exercise may vary from country but plant breeders both from public and private
sectors often optionally seek to have their varieties tested officially. In fact this led to the
development of a system of official variety testing and release.

VARIETAL DEVELOPMENT
The varieties are being developed at Provincial and Federal Agricultural Research Institutes
mainly through conventional Plant Breeding i.e. Introduction, Hybridization and selection etc. A
significant use of Atomic radiation is being made for the development of varieties specifically of
food legumes, rice and cotton. Privatization promotion policy of the government of Pakistan has
encouraged the emergence of multinational seed companies like Pioneer Pakistan Seeds Ltd,
Monsanto Pakistan Seed (Pvt.) Ltd, Syngenta (Pakistan) Ltd and ICI Pak seed Ltd.

These companies have started breeding programmes and submitting varieties for evaluation and
registration. These varieties include hybrids of sunflower, Maize and Sorghum. Pakistan also
keeps close liaison with International Agricultural Research Centers like IRRI, ICARDA,
ICRISAT, CIMMTY, CIAT, IITA and AVRDC for obtaining germplasm to strengthen the
national plant breeding programmes. We are also working on Plant Breeder’s Rights, that may
change the role of research organizations through more research toward development of
germplasm resources, new breeding procedures and identification of superior breeding lines.

VARIETY TESTING
The crop breeders test and evaluate at research centers, a large number of strains in micro-varietal
trials, for sufficient number of years and then the promising material emerging from these micro
varietal trials is further tested in the out-station zonal varietal trials. The breeders are aware of the
variation that can occur on account of the genotypic-environmental interaction. In order to
overcome this phenomena Zonal trials are conducted widely in the area of adaptability usually in
cooperation with enlightened growers and on government farms. When a breeder selects a variety
on the basis of a wide range of tests and considers it having sufficient merit, he submits seed
sample to the National Seed Registration Department to determine the distinctness, Uniformity
and Stability characteristics for establishing description and registration. Simultaneously, the seed
samples are also provided to the Variety Evaluation Committees of Pakistan Agriculture Research
council (PARC) for crops other than cotton. For cotton seed samples are submitted to Pakistan
Central Cotton Committee. Both these organizations evaluate the candidate varieties for value
and cultivation use (VCU). A variety that meets the requirements of VCU and DUS is then
accepted for registration and release as defined in the Seed Act that a released variety means a
registered variety having agricultural value for growing and approved by the National/Provincial
Seed Council.

VALUE FOR CULTIVATION AND USE (VCU)

Value for cultivation and use is the only criteria for which a commercial variety is developed.
Initially the variety is tested locally by adopting a well planned testing procedure covering
suitable field plot techniques and adequate number of replications and experimental design. The
agronomic trials are carried out by provincial Agricultural Departments at their adaptive Research
Farms, progressive growers and seed corporation farms. Performance of value for cultivation and
use of the candidate variety is expressed relative to control variety/varieties used as check.

The most important aspect of testing for VCU perhaps is the yield performance but there are other
characteristics which must be assessed. Field characteristics may differ from crop to crop i.e. for
wheat resistance to rusts and other pathogens, lodging and bread quality etc. It is also important
that the product of the crop must be of the right quality for the purpose for which it is intended.

DISTINCTNESS, UNIFORMITY AND STABILITY (DUS) REQUIRMENTS

In addition to the value of a cultivar for cultivation and use, the cultivar must be suitable for pure
seed production which requires the cultivar to be distinct, uniform and stable in its characteristics.

DISTINCTNESS
The new variety must be defined and clearly distinguishable from all other existing varieties by
one or more morphological (shape, color etc.), physiological (resistance, maturity etc.) and metric
characteristics (height, leaf length etc.). In the absence of distinctness, it will not be possible to
distinguish and identify the new variety for seed production and certification.

UNIFORMITY (HOMOGENEITY)
The new variety must be reasonably uniform within its stand so that individual plants could be
identified. Uniformity or homogeneity relates to the degree of variability within the variety. The
degree of uniformity that is attainable depends on the breeding system.

STABILITY
The new variety must be stable in its essential characteristics, that is to say it must remain true to
its description after repeated reproduction or propagation. A stable cultivar is always credited
because it can be increased and distributed without many problems. It is not generally possible
during a period 2 to 3 years to perform stability tests with same certainty as the testing of
distinctness and homogeneity. Generally, when a submitted sample has shown to be homogenous
in two growing years, it is taken to be as stable because the breeders/institutions has the
responsibility to maintain the variety and its stability in later generations. If failure in stability is
detected in later generation then variety could be declared unfit for certified seed production.
Stability is further ascertained through pre and post control trials.

REGISTRATION OF NEW CROP VARIETIES

As Soon as a variety completes its evaluation regarding VCU and DUS characteristics, the data
are discussed by the Federal Seed Registration Committee (FSRC). The varieties found
acceptable are recommended to the National Seed Council (NSC) for confirmation of registration.
The registered varieties become eligible for quality control through the Federal Seed Certification
Department.

SIGNIFICANCE OF REGISTRATION

The registration provides the basis for quality control through Federal Seed Certification
Department.
The registration will also provide the basis for administering the Plant Breeder’s Rights.
The registration of varieties and their authentic descriptions provide the basis for true to
type maintenance of Breeder’s Nucleus Stocks of the variety for the production of Pre-
basic seed.
APPROVAL AND RELEASE OF CROP VARIETIES
At provincial level, the registered varieties are released and recommended for general
cultivation by the respective Provincial Seed Council (PSC). The Provincial Governments are
responsible for arranging production, processing and distribution of quality seed of released
varieties in sufficient quantities for the farming community.

a) Expert Sub-committee: At Provincial Level, Expert Sub-committee which is

represented by the breeders and agricultural experts receives proposal of new
candidate varieties submitted by the breeders. This committee evaluates the data of
breeders along with reports of FSC&RD regarding Distinctness, Uniformity and
stability characteristics and PARC relating to agronomic value, region suitability/
adaptability and disease reaction. After thorough examination, Expert Sub –
committees submits cases of those varieties which are considered suitable for
cultivation to Provincial Seed Council for approval.

b) Provincial Seed Council: The Provincial Seed Council (in each province) which is
represented by the breeders, seed producers, quality control agencies and enlightened
growers discuss the proposals of the candidate varieties in the light of the
recommendation /comments of the Expert Sub-committee and approves / release the
varieties accordingly.

c) National Seed Council: The decisions of the Provincial Seed Councils regarding
approval and release of varieties are usually unanimous. In case of difference of
opinion among the members, the cases are referred to the National seed council. In
such cases the FSCRD furnishes the views of the crop specialists and submit the
cases to the National Seed Council for final decision.